In Manipur, a drone attack claimed the lives of two people and injured at least six others in Imphal West on September 1. The attack, which occurred in the Koutruk and Kadangband villages, marks a significant and alarming intensification of the ongoing ethnic conflict that has plagued the state for over a year. According to reports, the drone strike took place in the afternoon, targeting the Meitei-dominated areas of Imphal West, which border the Kuki-majority district of Kangpokpi. The attack is the latest in a series of violent incidents that have gripped Manipur since May 2023, leading to hundreds of deaths and displacing tens of thousands of people.
Manipur Police, in a statement released late on September 1, described the attack as “unprecedented,” highlighting that the use of drones to deploy explosives represents a dangerous new development in the conflict. The statement noted, “[A]lleged Kuki militants have deployed numerous RPGs using high-tech drones… This recent deployment of drones to deploy explosives against security forces and civilians marks a significant escalation.” The police have not directly named any Kuki organization as responsible for the attack, but the incident has further inflamed tensions between the Meitei and Kuki communities.
Among the casualties was 31-year-old Ngangbam Surbala, who succumbed to bullet injuries sustained during the attack. Her eight-year-old daughter was also injured. Two police personnel and a television reporter were among the injured, with police confirming that a total of six people were wounded in the assault. The attack follows the release of audio tapes by The Wire, which were submitted to the Commission of Inquiry for Manipur Violence set up by the Union Home Ministry. The tapes allegedly implicate Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and his administration in the ongoing violence. The tapes, which the administration has dismissed as “doctored,” have put significant pressure on Biren Singh to address the allegations. The Manipur government’s home department has condemned the incident, calling it an “act of terrorizing unarmed villagers,” as the state continues to grapple with the deep-rooted ethnic divide.
